Google’s $68 million settlement over claims that Google Assistant devices recorded conversations without a “Hey Google” prompt and sent some clips to outside contractors won final approval on October 13 from Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose federal court. About 1.49 million people filed claims, while only 217 opted out and Freeman overruled all seven objections. Device buyers are expected to get roughly $18 to $56 each, and people whose conversations were captured by false activations or shared with review contractors should get $2 to $10. Class counsel will take about $22.7 million, a third of the fund, but Freeman cut the four lead plaintiffs’ service awards from $10,000 to $5,000 each, since the full amount would have been more than 178 times the most a device buyer could expect.
